Axially compressing type tire removing apparatus



Sept. 2, 1952 R. D. HENDERSON 2,609,038

AXIAL-LY COMPRESSING TYPE TIRE REMOVING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR'.

ROBERT D. HENDERSON Sept. 2, 1952 R. D. HENDERSON AXIALLY COMPRESSING TYPE TIRE. REMOVING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR.

ROBE RT D. HENDERSON Z ZT @M Patented Sept. 2, 1952 QQUNITED AXIALLY COMPRESSING TYPE TIRE, REMOVING APPARATUS Robert D.Henderson, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 10, 1948, Serial No. 26,222

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tire handling equipment and more particularly to a device for loosening, or breaking the bead portions of a pneumatic tire casing from the bead receiving flange of a tire rim upon which the tire is mounted.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which will simultaneously break both beads of a .tire casing mounted on so-called drop center rims.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bead breaker device which includes a pair of jaws one for and engageable with each bead, wherein one of said jaws is extensible in the sense that its overall reach may be varied to accommodate rims and tires of varying sizes, thicknesses, widths and diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible jaw having the hereinabove described characteristics which is constructed in such a manner as to be automatically locked at any desired reach or position between upper and lower limits incident to the application of a turning moment thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bead breaker device having an, extensible twopiece jaw adapted to hang in a non-interfering manner below with reference to a wheel supporting surface, said jaw being swingable upwardly over and around the casing of a tire mounted on the rim of a wheel positioned on said wheel supporting surface.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a bead breaker having a pair of jaws, one for'each bead of a tire, wherein the operating characteristics of said jaws are synchronized whereby to onto the rims, without mutilating or otherwise damaging the tire. Another object of the invention is to provide a bead breaker adapted for use with pneumatic tires of the type which utilize standard tubes, or

heavy-duty puncture-proof tubes, as well as with the new tubeless tires.

Still another object or the "invention is to provide a device havingthe hereinabove described characteristics wherein the jaws are sopropo-rtioned and dimensioned whereby to engage a substantial area of the side walls of a tire casing adjacent the bead thereby providing adequate and ample spacev between the casing-and wheel slideablyengage shaft I8.

. 2 inserted therebetween for prying the loosened bead over the outer flange of the rim. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a bead breaking device wherein the actuating lever and the bead engaging jaws are .soco'nstructed and arranged as to provide for maximum efiiciency of the device with a minimum of effort on thepart-of an operator.

These and otherobjects are attainedby-the means described herein and as disclosed iii-the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side View of a tire handling device embodying the teachings of the present invention with certain parts cut away for clarity of detail and understanding. :7 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the device in the process of simultaneously break-in the upper and lower beads of a tire.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the extensible jaw comprising adetail of the present invention. With reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted. that the instant tire handling device may include a base or pedestal Ill, a support column 12 and a wheel supporting table 14, the diameter of which is preferably of a dimension at least as great. as the diameter of the largest wheelto be'servic'ed by the device. r

Suitable means may be providedfor centering and looking a wheel to the wheel supporting table [4; If desired, such means may, comprise La stepped cone [6 constructed and arranged to A spring [9 normally urges cone is upwardly for locating and seating the central opening of plate 24 of wheel 25 me corresponding step of the cone thereby automatically compensating for wheels of varying widths.

If desired, means for locking the wheel against rotation maybe provided such as a spring loaded pin 20 terminating in arounded upper or'free end 22 and adapted to selectively engageoneof the bolt holes provided in spaced relationship with-the central opening of plate 24 of ,a wheel. Theparticular structural details of the stepped cone and locating pin are more fullydescribed in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 746,273, filed .on May 6, 1947, nowPatent No. 2,481,926. It should be understood that the means disclosed in Fig. -1 for centering and looking a wheel relative to support plate i4 is exemplary in nature rather than restrictive, and that any other suitable means may be used to accomplish the desired end.

rim for accommodating a suitable tire tool -A,support member 31] may be suitably journaled for rotation about the longitudinal axisof column I2 such as by means of collars 32 and 34 which are located intermediate spaced abutments 36 and 38. An actuating lever 40 is pivoted intermediate its length as at 42 to support 30', it being understood that said lever may be supported between a pair of similar, laterally spaced members 30.

A paimotgjaws denoted generally. by, the nu,- merals .44.and 46 are; pivotally secured-touever 40, jaw 44 being secured to the lever as at 45 on that side of pivotal connection 42 remote from-.10 -p0rt [4,

end 48 of the lever; jaw 46 being pivotally secured as at 41 to the lever intermediateapivota4z L" and end 48.

Jaw 44 is constructed and arranged. insucha manner as to engage the lower sidewall 'of the casing of a tire 50 having beadsifliseatedwithirrr. rim flange 53 of a wheel 25 mounted on support I 4. The contour and physical characteristics of ja w 4 4,. are such that the tip end 54 is normally and yieldingly'urged inwardly; that-is'towardthe axis of column 12; by means of a spring 43; whereby tip of said jaw will normally seek "and engagethecontouroflower flange-53 'ofthewheel as leyer 4 0-is moved-ma clockwise direction about mint-42f In' this manner the -forward portion of thejaw will-actually" pry the bead-fromthe rim thereby preventing damage tothebeadiincident its: eparation --from-= the rim;-

Irv-the preferred embodiment of-the-invention,

one end of spring 43 may----be'attached toa pin 4' I {secured to andcarried' by support and the other 'endfattached to' a pin 49 secureda to' and carried' by jaw 441 When thesepins are arranged so that a straight line drawmbetween themwill intorsectfleven pivot 42 whom-lever 45- is in:the fiiliyfloweredor retracted position illustratedin Fig. l, springfltiwill effectively maintain the lever in its' rl'etracted "position by reason ofthe. connectiogpr'jaw -44 with thelever 1 at 45.-

Asiclearly' illustrated in Fig. 1, theupper free endofjhe-actuating lever will contact jaw 44 as atrjj gtherebymoving said -j aw outwardly away froin support l4 and agai-nst the=counterorce of sl t-1 E432 thereby" effectively precludingcontact Y "said support: Jaw, comprises two sections Gil-and 62*which are. slideabl'y' and adjustably" interconnected-for fvaryingthe reach of the jaw. In the-preferred embodiment eithe invention, I attainthe'desired adjustability of jaw 46;by. means of-oneor-more giddgmembersl 64 securedLto oneof; said sections andupQnflwhich-the other of" said sections is slideably' mounted. In the drawings lf have representedtheguide members as a pair oflaterally spaced .rods secured." to and. carried by section 62 These guide members" may threadably-engage or I maybewelded to or otherwisesuitably and permanentlyianchored relative, to section 52 which may j bezproyided' with Jan enlarged boss- '68" for' this purpose. H

Section, Ellmay; be provided with-a pair of guide 7 member receptive apertures dimensionedfor slidtvith the ,guidemembersgand in" order-to proyideian automatic lockingof' section' Bli rela tive tosection 62 incident-to-the'applicationot a turning momentbetween said sections the length dimention ,ofv the apertures, as defined-bythe overalllengthf of boss 10 is preferablyof a dimension ranging from 1 to '3 timesthe diameter ob uidemem r. 6

' Section 5llterminates at-itsfree outer end in tip.8fl,.which is adapted to be inserted in or at=the iuncturefis'wherefiange Sect-the rim meets side walls RTQfthetire -(Fig:'1). The end of this jaw,

When it is desired to utilize the device for breaking or loosening the beads of the casing of a-tiremounted in flanges 53 of the wheel, handle 84..may.'be. grasped for permitting section 60 to be slid outwardly to a fully extended position with reference-to secti'on 62 thereby providing a maximumireach of jaw 46. The extended jaw may then be swung upwardly as indicated by the broken lines of Fig. 1 around and over tire 50 'ior-locatin'g-tip SIT-in" juncture 88,- during-which time 'section'fi Umay-be slid" inwardly on and-with reference to guide-members 64- -for: automatically adjustingthe overall reach of 'the jaw to :theasi'ze of the tirebeingworkeddpon:

If a clockwise motion be now imparted/to the free puter -endever lever- 40, lower jaw 44 will be lifted'-upwardly *about pivotal connection/.42, whereas the two-section or composite upperujaw 4B'-'will bemoved down-wardly, wherebysthaupper and lower-beads of-thetire'casing willnbe simulcompression" of the-beads). Tip-: of: the upper jaw-may be" easily guided" by ha'ndi'to. follow the contour of the flange engagedsbyitheupperabead, said action being ==facilitated by the linkagearrangementi'llustratedin- Fig; 2. i i In-' the' preferred embodiment-=01? the invention, the axis of-guiddmemb'enfifl and the axis :of :the aperturesof bosp HF,- designated generally by Y-'Y substantially parallel: with an axis drawn' th'ru tip 80 and pivot: connection: 414. 'of jaw 46, thru which points a line"X-.+X has been passed. --By reasorr ofthis construction; itris apparent that relative: movement between sections 60-'and-=62 oftwo'--piece jaw'46 will' be such asrto maintain' tip 8fl on line: "x-sxithroughout all reach-settings;- thereby:- eifectively'preserving. the desired-and necessaryalignment ofsection-.-6fl w-itl'rreference to section :62:

It will likewise be observed that as soon' as a turning moment is introduced'b etween sections '00 and 62-} section 6 0 will be locked-irelative to. guide members 64 as a'result of a bendingmoment-or cooking of said apertures withreferencejtdthe guide members. Experience has" :conclusively demonstratedthat-sections-G [rand 62rwillbe posi- -tivelylockedwherebyto-establish a definite reach mitting thejaws tocbe swung circumferentially with reference tothe: tire-I01: enabling the; bead breaking: operation to:.be repeated: one or: more times for; properly and. completely :loosenlng: the beads 'tromth'e :flangeeofithe-rim.

as-w ith'jaw44 is dimensioned for insertion be- 75"" '-As"clearly:disclosed in.'Fig.:2-,.:javw46 will amply s-scabs:

and ade'quately compress or spacethe upperbad from its adjacent flange for facilitating the insertion 'of a suitabletire tool; with which to, pry the bead over the outer edge of the-rim.

such as a pin 90 may be provided thruthe free outeren'dof guide members 64 for precluding acreceivable [on support I4 whereas the; rim out- Ilinedin broken lines and identified by the nu .meral l d "notes the smallestwheel to be'jserviced by my" device, it being further understood that said device is capable of handling wheels ranging from 12 to 18 inches in diameter without difficulty.

The contour of lower fac "12 of jaw 44 is so proportioned with reference to the outer periphery of support M as to avoid contact therewith even when wheels of the smallest diameter are being worked upon.

It should likewise be observed that in those instances where for some reason it is desirable to loosen only the lower bead, lever 40 may be actuated for rendering jaw 44 operative while jaw 46 remains inoperative in the retracted or lowered position illustrated in the full lines of Fig. 1.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that I have provided an abutment I08 in jaw 44 which is engageable by the inner periphery of section 62 of jaw 46 when said jaw has been swung upwardly to the position indicated by the broken lines of Fig. 1. Further lifting of jaw 46 will result in lever 40 being moved in a clockwise direction about pivot 42 thru jaw 44 connected thereto as at 45, thereby automatically presenting actuating lever 40 to the operator incident to locating or positioning of jaw 46 with reference to the upper bead of the tire on wheel 25.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for breaking the bead of a pneumatic tire from the rim flange of a wheel, comprising a support for holding a wheel while a tire carried thereby is being Worked upon, an actuating lever, means pivotally mounting the actuating lever upon said support at an axis residing adjacent one side of a wheel mounted upon said support, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on said lever for working upon beads at opposite sides of the tire, the axes at which the jaws are mounted being located respectively at opposite sides of the axis at which the lever is pivotally mounted on said support means, the said jaws being dissimilar in size but both having generally concave sides facing the support when the jaws are respectively in engagement with a tire, the locus of movement of the pivotal axis of the smaller of said jaws, in response to actuation of said lever, being generally more remote from the tire than the locus of movement of the pivotal axis of the larger of said jaws, the smaller of said jaws being dimensioned to act upon the tire head which is at the side of the tire nearest the axis upon which said lever is mounted, the larger of the jaws comprising two segments arranged in tandem to encircle a tire for acting upon portions thereof which are remote from the pivotal axis at which said lever is mounted, and means for adjustably spacing the two segments of said larger jaw to provide for its encirclement of tires of differing sizes.

t shouldibe understood thatsuitable m ans,

A device for breaking the" head of a pneuane tir'efrom'the ,rim flangeof a wheel, c prising a support for holding a wheel whil a tire carried thereby is being worked upon, an actuating lever, means for pivotally mounting the actuating lever upon said support at an axis residing at one sideof a wheel. mounted upon said support, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on said: lever at axes which are located respectively at opposite sides of the axis at which the lever is pivotally mounted,- the said jaws being dissimilarin size but having curved tire engaging surfaces which face in thesame direction when the jaws are' in engagement with a tire,.the

smaller of the said jaws being dimensioned to act upon the tire bead which is at the side of the tire nearest the axis at which the said lever is mounted, the larger of the jaws comprising separable segments which, in assembly, are capable of encircling a tire to act upon portions thereof which are remote from the pivotal axis at which the said lever is mounted, and a friction lock for rigidly interconnecting the separable segments of the larger jaw in response to bead breaking pressure engagement of the larger jaw with the tire.

3. A device for breaking the bead of a pneumatic tire from the rim flange of a wheel, comprising a support for holding a wheel while a tire carried thereby is being worked upon, an actuating lever, means for pivotally mounting the actuating lever upon said support at an axis residing at one side of a wheel mounted upon said support, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on said lever at axes which are located respectively at opposite sides of the axis at which the lever is pivotally mounted, the said jaws being dissimilar in size but having curved tire engaging surfaces which face in the same direction when the jaws are in engagement with a tire, the smaller of the said jaws being dimensioned to act upon the tire bead which is at the side of the tire nearest the axis at which the said lever is mounted, the larger of the jaws comprising separable segments which, in assembly, are capable of encircling a tire to act upon portions thereof which are remote from the pivotal axis at which the said lever is mounted, and means loosely interconnecting the said separable segments and providing a friction lock responsive to canting of one jaw segment with respect to the other for interlocking the jaw segments upon bead breaking pressure engagement of the larger jaw with the bead of a tire.

4. A device for breaking the bead of a pneumatic tire from the rim flange of a wheel, comprising a support for holding a wheel while a tire carried thereby is being worked upon, an actuating lever, means for pivotally mounting the actuating lever upon said support at an axis residin at one side of a wheel mounted upon said support, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on said lever at axes which are located respectively at opposite sides of the axis at which the lever is pivotally mounted, the said jaws being dissimilar in size but having curved tire engaging surfaces which face in the same direction when the jaws are in engagement with a tire, the smaller of said jaws being dimensioned to act upon the tire bead which is at the side of the tire nearest the axis at which the said lever is mounted, the larger of the jaws being dimensioned to encircle the tire for acting upon a portion thereof which is remote from the pivotal axis at which the said lever is mounted, and one of said jaws having an abutment surface thereon which is en- 

